RWC Final : New Zealand vs South Africa - Sat 28th @ 20.00 BST

[OomStruisbaai]

Pollard and Faf starting. 7/1 bench.

[boere wors]

It is risky, but like it. They had to come up with something and they did. Would have given Moodie a go at wing instead of KLA and Reinach on bench. But I like it.

Bokke by 1

[assfly]

7-1

It's amazing what Rassie has done to us, when I see the team sheet the first think I look at is the bench

It's a good selection, made for wet weather.

[handyman]

7-1

It's amazing what Rassie has done to us, when I see the team sheet the first think I look at is the bench

It's a good selection, made for wet weather.

Kolbe backup 9.
Faf, Le Roux and Willemse backup 10.
Willemse backup 12.
De Allende backup 13.
Kriel backup 11 and 14.
Le Roux backup 10, 11, 14 and 15.

It's risky. Let's go!

[Sandstorm]

Here we go!

Don’t like Duane, KLA or Willie against the ABs.

[assfly]

Just as a point of comparison,

This is the Bok team that lost to New Zealand in July:

15-Willie le Roux, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 13-Lukhanyo Am, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Makazole Mapimpi, 10-Damian Willemse, 9-Faf de Klerk, 8-Jasper Wiese, 7-Franco Mostert, 6-Kwagga Smith, 5-Lood de Jager, 4-Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 1-Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Thomas du Toit, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21-Duane Vermeulen, 22-Grant Williams, 23-Manie Libbok.

And this is the team that beat New Zealand at Twickenham:

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Willie le Roux

[boere wors]

Interesting. So a mix up of both now.

[Bloutoria]

Vokken butterflies... ALREADY!

[boere wors]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

[handyman]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

Agreed.

[Bloutoria]

Fozzy still in the dunny with a pencil and a clipboard?

[Sandstorm]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

Agreed.

Yeah, seems a huge risk in a final. We don't need a specialist (in poor form) playing 15 for the last 20 mins.

EDIT: Although someone has to shout in Christie's face after the final whistle.

[Gumboot]

Fozzy still in the dunny with a pencil and a clipboard?

I think it's largely decided...or at least, I hope it is. If we stray from our usual 5-3 bench split I'll be really concerned.

Whitelock and Retallick could swap spots, and maybe Nepo in for Newell?

[Blake]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

I'm also concerned about this. They should have gone 6-2 with Reinach or Williams or dropped Willie for either Reinach or Williams.
If we loose Faf during the match we are toast.

Sure Kolbe can probably cover for him at the base, but can he box kick? Can he clear the ball fast enough? It's a massive risk and it makes me very nervous.

[assfly]

My biggest concern is whether Duane is ready to go up against Ardie Savea. If Savea is given to much room to run, especially from the back of the scrum, we'll be in trouble.

[Bloutoria]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

I'm also concerned about this. They should have gone 6-2 with Reinach or Williams or dropped Willie for either Reinach or Williams.
If we loose Faf during the match we are toast.

Sure Kolbe can probably cover for him at the base, but can he box kick? Can he clear the ball fast enough? It's a massive risk and it makes me very nervous.

Let's hope Kolbe has been kicking bombs the whole week with Eben charging at him with whites of the eyes showing.

[Sandstorm]

My biggest concern is whether Duane is ready to go up against Ardie Savea. If Savea is given to much room to run, especially from the back of the scrum, we'll be in trouble.

Me too. I'd like Kwagga there, his energy around the ruck will give ABs nightmares. When did Thor last make a turnover?

[Gumboot]

Hey Chilli,

I can't remember the thread, but didn't you recently suggest we wager a bottle of plonk on the result?

I don't bet as a rule, but enjoy a fun challenge, so have a slightly different proposal if you're interested...

[Sards]

Here we go!

Don’t like Duane, KLA or Willie against the ABs.

This team lost to the ABs in the RC but Willemse waa at 10. I think they are out for revenge. Moodie should have been there. They learnt from France and England how to beat this team.

[boere wors]

My biggest concern is whether Duane is ready to go up against Ardie Savea. If Savea is given to much room to run, especially from the back of the scrum, we'll be in trouble.

Would Jasper be any better in that regard?

[Sandstorm]

Moodie should have been there.

One thing we armchair coaches always forget is that we don't attend practice with the team on Tuesday morning. For all we know, the Bok wingers spent 4 hours taking high kicks and KLA caught 25% more than Moodie. Rasnaber knows.

[Blake]

My biggest concern is whether Duane is ready to go up against Ardie Savea. If Savea is given to much room to run, especially from the back of the scrum, we'll be in trouble.

Me too. I'd like Kwagga there, his energy around the ruck will give ABs nightmares. When did Thor last make a turnover?

It's probably Duane's last 40-50 mins in a Bok jersey.
I think he is going to give it his all one last time.

Savea is a massive threat, but they have threats everywhere.

[assfly]

Would Jasper be any better in that regard?

Perhaps marginally quicker out of the blocks, but Savea is a freak, I don't know many 8s who can match him for power and speed at the moment.

[Sards]

Moodie should have been there.

One thing we armchair coaches always forget is that we don't attend practice with the team on Tuesday morning. For all we know, the Bok wingers spent 4 hours taking high kicks and KLA caught 25% more than Moodie. Rasnaber knows.

My take is its last hoorah for a lot of these players and the new guard will continue going forward. I also think that they are looking for revenge for the RC match. One thing I know. No matter how good you are at practice, the real thing is not the same. The ABs have Will Jordan who scores tries for fun. That back 3 is going to be under a lot of pressure. First half they are going to be contesting in the air

[Sandstorm]

Would Jasper be any better in that regard?

Perhaps marginally quicker out of the blocks, but Savea is a freak, I don't know many 8s who can match him for power and speed at the moment.

[LoveOfTheGame]

My biggest concern is whether Duane is ready to go up against Ardie Savea. If Savea is given to much room to run, especially from the back of the scrum, we'll be in trouble.

Me too. I'd like Kwagga there, his energy around the ruck will give ABs nightmares. When did Thor last make a turnover?

It's probably Duane's last 40-50 mins in a Bok jersey.
I think he is going to give it his all one last time.

Savea is a massive threat, but they have threats everywhere.

Boks must get off to a good start, if they can manage a lead at 1/2 time we're in with a chance. And discipline, we must not give away silly penalties. Rolling away from the tackle area has been our Achillis heel this RWC. The AB's will want to keep the ball in play for as long as they can and avoid set pieces. Especially scrums in the 1/2 half. The mini battles in this game is going to be epic, every little inch will be important. We must be sharp on the defense and good under the high ball. KLA and Kolby will be peppered with balls in the wet, hopefully they have been practising since last week in the rain.

[assfly]

Eish. Perhaps one day, but not at the moment. I'd sooner have Kwagga than Roos.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Eish. Perhaps one day, but not at the moment. I'd sooner have Kwagga than Roos.

Kwagga has been my hero this RWC, he has been immense!

[Slick]

Biggest worry is that Faf concusses himself in the first 5 minutes, which is not unlikely. It is the only worry with that 7-1, and could have been easily mitigated by having Reinach on the bench iso Willie.

Agreed.

Yeah, seems a huge risk in a final. We don't need a specialist (in poor form) playing 15 for the last 20 mins.

EDIT: Although someone has to shout in Christie's face after the final whistle.

It does seem unnecessarily risky, particularly as it's a final and could go to extra time as well.

[boere wors]

Eish. Perhaps one day, but not at the moment. I'd sooner have Kwagga than Roos.

Kwagga has been my hero this RWC, he has been immense!

Perfect impact player. He is an absolute weapon coming from the bench against tired opposition. He gave me the creeps though when they started him at 7 the last couple of years.

[Sandstorm]

it's a final and could go to extra time as well.

Fuck no!! My nerves can't take 120 minutes of stress this weekend!!!

[_Os_]

Lets Go Team Uncles!

[OomStruisbaai]

All Blacks team? Foster still wprking on strategies.

[_Os_]

Nah this one

As Willie said, "For Boland Kavaliers".

[OomStruisbaai]

Nah this one

As Willie said, "For Boland Kavaliers".

Cheers, hoender vleis stuff. heard Paarl, Paulus Joubert ext. Also heard the lady mention "for Elton" there.

[Muttonbird]

I believe the ABs are now favourites with the bookies?

It's not surprising, the ABs have built well during the tournament and seem to have not run out of ideas and passion.

And hookers.

They are the standout favorites

Well, that is just not true. The bookies are struggling to separate the teams. What I am saying is NZ has built well and SA has been at peak for a long time now.

[Muttonbird]

Agree, The All Blacks the clear favorites just like England in 2019. Everything work fine.

PB, the All Blacks 2023 are not like England 2019. Or England ever.

Try to tell you a week is a long time in rugby. You are welcome to underestimate the Springboks. Keep going.

I would never underestimate the Springboks. As above, I am just noting the momentum of both teams and the shift in momentum.

Also, Malcolm Marx is a huge loss for SA, particularly when facing the All Blacks.

[Chilli]

I believe the ABs are now favourites with the bookies?

It's not surprising, the ABs have built well during the tournament and seem to have not run out of ideas and passion.

And hookers.

They are the standout favorites

Well, that is just not true. The bookies are struggling to separate the teams. What I am saying is NZ has built well and SA has been at peak for a long time now.

M8, your lot klaps the Boks more often than not. You had an easy semi final, and an extra days rest.

[handyman]

PB, the All Blacks 2023 are not like England 2019. Or England ever.

Try to tell you a week is a long time in rugby. You are welcome to underestimate the Springboks. Keep going.

I would never underestimate the Springboks. As above, I am just noting the momentum of both teams and the shift in momentum.

Also, Malcolm Marx is a huge loss for SA, particularly when facing the All Blacks.

A Springbok team with his back against the wall is a dangerous animal.

[Sards]

Nah this one

As Willie said, "For Boland Kavaliers".

Yoh

For Milnerton high.......